.35 



■' ^ / 

/ THE 

BATTLE OF LODI ; 

OR, 

^iV ACCURATE SKETCH 

OF 

GENERAL BONAPARTE'S 
CAMPAIGNS IN ITALY. 

CHIEFLY INTENDED AS A COMPANION TO 

THE GREAT HISTORICAL PICTURE, 

PAINTED BT ROBERT KER PORTER, 



NEW-rORK: 

PRINTED BY SOUTHWICK AND HARDCASTLE, 

NO. 2, WALL-STREET, 
FOR SALE AT THE PLACE OF EXHIBITION. 

1804. 



K 



^ 









1 



THE Print that accompanies this (ketch is 
engraved from a Medal of the Firft Conful exe_ 
cuted in Paris by his own order ; and is gene- 
rally fuppofed to be a correct likenefs : the art- 
ift has omitted fome trophies by which it was 
decorated, and has taken the fame liberty with 
the entablature, which reprefented the Battle of 
Marengo. 



'^ 



THE 



GREAT PICTURE 



OF THE 



BATTLE OF LODL 



SOON after the cessation of hostilities be- 
tween Great Britain and » France, Mr. Ker 
Porter painted the Picture of the Battle of Lodi. 
He had already transmitted on canvas, thofe 
scenes glorious to his Country, which were 
performed before the walls of Seringapatam, 
St, Jean dAcre, and Alexandria. In every 
one of these actions, French policy was foiled ; 
and in the two latter, its prowess shared the 
same fate. It remained for the artist to shew 
by the Battle of Lodi, that the Enemy was 
worthy of conquest, that the laurels with which 
the British Army and Navy returned from 
the Eaft, were as thick as they were green, as 
immortal as they were resplendant. 



8 

The victories of Bonaparte, in Italy, in Ger- 
many, in Egypt, were the burden of every 
tongue : his policy and his arms were deemed 
invincible : he declared that he believed so 
himself But, at the Siege of Acre, he found 
the vanity of his boast. The brave defender of 
that place, and his gallant followers, shewed an- 
other sight than that which was acted on the 
Banks of the Adda : every honor on the crest of 
France was cropt, to make a fadeless garland for 
the head of England ; and he, who at Lodi, 
fhook all Europe with terror, in Egypt trenlbl- 
ed at the arm of a Britifh Commodore. 

The Battle of Lodi, which was the object of 
fuch general admiration, and is the fubject of 
Mr. Ker Porter's Painting, is detailed in the 
fucceeding pages. The difposition of the Pic- 
ture itfelf, (hall be explained in a few words. 

On the right hand fide of the canvafs, is a 
€orre£l view of the Town of Lodi, from the 
Gate of which, the celebrated Bridge com- 
mences, which is two hundred yards over, and 






9 

twenty feet in width. To a confiderable extent 
round the City, is a fine plain, diversified with 
villas, farms, cottages, and beautiful woods. 
The Adda parts this charming Champaigne ; on 
the nearer fide of which, are seen the remains of 
the old fortifications, which the Austrians turn- 
ed into barracks for their soldiers. 

The Austrian troops are clothed in white, 
their Hussars in blue with red cloaks, and their 
Staff in green. The Neapolitans in red with 
yellow facings. The French are distinguished 
by green habits, long haired helmets, blue coats, 
large hats, with National cockades. 

In the centre of the Picture, Bonaparte 
appears on a white charger superbly capa- 
risoned ; he is giving directions to Citizen 
Marmot, his Aide-de-Camp, the Officer who 
afterwards fo greatly fignalized himfelf, and 
had a horfe killed under him. General Lafnes 
is to the right of the Commander in Chief, on 
the Roan Horfe ; and General Berthier on 
the bay, is ordering his divijfion to repel the 
Neapolitans, who are attempting to ftem the 

B 



lO 

impetuofity of the troops which are purfuing 
the Auftrians. 

General Beaulieu, (Commander of the Aus- 
rian Army.) on a chefnut horfe, furrounded 
by his Staff, is seen on an eminence, di- 
recting that a res[iment of Chafleurs a cheval 
fhould (Irengthen the Cavalry, deftined to 
cover the retreat. 

Below, is a fquadron of Huffars protefting 
the left flank of the retreating Army againft 
the French Cavalry, which had croITed the 
river Adda, three miles below the town at a fpot 
fcarcely fordable, under the command of a Ge- 
neral of Divifion. 

As a 1 aft refuge, the Auftrians are firing out 
of the doors and windows of their barracks on 
the French, who are preffing forward with loud 
outcries of mutual encouragement. Bonaparte, 
as was faid before, leads their van, and is foU 
lowed by that Standard, which has hitherto been 
confidered as the palladium of their conquefts, 
and which was loft at Alexandria, and taken by 
the Biitifti troops. 



11 



On, and near this fpot, feem rallied all the 
horrors of the action. Generals Augerau and 
MafTena, are giving orders for a party to feize 
the guns of the enemy to the right, whofe fire 



enfiladed the bridge. 



Death exhibits itfelf in every terrible fliape. 
The rails of the bridge give v^ay, and the 
living with the dead, are precipitated into the 



river. 



General Monier on the brown horfe ; and 

General DefTaix (who has loft his hat in the 
heat of battle,) are endeavoring to check the 
impetuofity of their troops in crofting the 
Bridge. 

General Rufca on the black horse in the 
centre of the bridge, is leading forward 
another part of the irrefiftible column ; its 
rear is feen pafting under the Adda gate ; 
near which is a half demolished statue. At 
the commencement of the battle, Bonaparte 
took his station on the pedestal ; and whilst 
under a heavy discharge of artillery, he was 



12 

making obfervations with his glafs, a cannon 
ball carried oft" the head of the figure. 

On the Lodi fide of the river, the rear of the 
French Army line its banks, impatient for the 
fignal to join their vi6lorious comrades. 

The battle took place on the loth of May, 
1796, and began at nine o'clock in the morn- 
ing. The French were 60,000 fl;rong, and the 
Aufl:rians 30,000. The lofs on the fide of Auf- 
tria, was between 2 and 3000 killed and wound- 
ed, and 1000 taken prifoners, with twenty pieces 
of cannon. The French loft from 4 to 6000 
men. 



'< I 'I' 



SKETCH 



OF 



Bonaparte s Campaigns in Italy : 

WITH A PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION OF THE 

BATTLE OF LODI. 

NAPOLEON BONAPARTE was born at 
Ajaccio in CoHica, on the 15th of Auguft, 
1769. At an early age he was brought to 
France, and placed in a Military Academy at 
Brienne, in Champagne. He remained a clofe 
ftudent during the firfl years of the Revolution^ 
until the fiege of Toulon, in 1793, when he ob- 
tained a command of artillery. Two years af- 
ter that memorable period, he found himfclf 
General in Chief of the Army of Italy, with 
fixty thoufand men at his difpofal. 



M 
When Bonaparte arrived to take the com- 
mand of his troops, they weie Rationed on the 
defenfive along the rocks which embank the riv- 
er of Genoa. On the 11th of April, a battle 
took place between them and the combined 
Forces, in which the conteft v/as maintained on 
both fides with bravery, till conqucft declared 
for the young General. This viftory was nam- 
ed the Battle of Montenotte. 

In crofling the Alps, the French met with 
many obftacles; but the battle of Millefimo 
furmounted them all ; and they were permitted 
to defcend unmolefled towards Mondovi. Here 
anew engagement took place. It ended like 
the former, in favor of Bonaparte ; procured a 
truce with Sardinia, and the pofTeffion of Tor- 
tona and Coni ; two fortreffes, which were im- 
mediately ceded to the French. 

The day after figning the truce, the Republi- 
can Army marched towards the Po, in purfuit 
of General Beaulieu. When they arrived, he 
had not only pailcd the river, but fhewed figns of 
difputing its pafTage, and of fortifying himfelf 
on its banks. 



15 

By a well conceived feint of Bonaparte's 
thefe meafures were fruftrated, and the Po 
crofTcd by the French without much danger. 
The Army then formed in order of battle, 
marched againft the enemy, and drove them 
from Fombio, to the river Adda, where they 
fuffered levere lofs. 

Fighting as they retreated, the Auflrians en- 
tered Lodi ;* but were foon compelled to quit 
it. General Beaulieu now drew up his whole 
army on the bank of the Adda, to defend the 
pafTage of the bridge, which he had not had time 
to break down. 

This bridge commands the town of Lodi; one 
end of it terminates in the city, and the other is 



* Lodi is a to\vn of Italy, in the Milanese. It is the cap- 
ital of Lodesan, and possesses a superb Bishop's Palace, and 
a fortress. Besides this memorable Battle of the Bridge of 
Lodi, others have been fought there. In 1799, the French 
were beaten at Lodi, by the Russians and 5000 taken prison-t 
ers. In 1800, the French regained it to their possession. It 
is charmingly situated on the banks of the Adda, and eigh- 
teen ipiles distant from Milan. 



i6 

covered by woods and a few ftraggling build- 
ings. 

Beaulieu had left a battalion of the regiment 
of Nadafli, with two fquadrons of cavalry in the 
town ; but a bri{k cannonading commencing 
on both fides, the Auftrians entirely evacuated 
Lodi, and rejoined the main body of their Ar- 
my. Major Malcamp, who commanded the 
retreating corps, caufed feveral pieces of can- 
non to be drawn to the end of the bridge, whilft 
fome other pieces placed on the right and left 
took it by a crofs fire. Bonaparte himfelf, fu- 
perintended the planting of two pieces of can- 
non on the Lodi fide. Not only this meafure 
was accomplifhed, but a folid column of grena- 
diers and carabiniers, was formed under a tre- 
mendous fire from the Auftrian artillery. 

At the head of this column, Bonaparte 
marched to the bridge. As foon as the French 
arrived at its entrance, they were received by a 
terrible difcharge of grape-fhot which com- 
pelled them to fall back with great flaughter. 
They returned twice to the attack, and were a . 



^7 

often repelled by the Auftrian cannons, which 
enfilading the bridge, were difcharged all at 
once as foon as they approached. Bonaparte 
perfevered. Frefh troops repaired the fhatter- 
ed column : fix Generals put themfelves at its 
head : they called to the foldiers ; they ani- 
mated them by their example, and led them 
back to the attack. Seizing a moment, when 
the fmoke produced by the inceffant firing, 
prevented the Auftrians from perceiving the 
immediate movement of their enemy, they 
ruflied upon the bridge, crofled it with rapidi- 
ty, and falling impetuoufly upon the troops and 
cannon, overthrew the one, and made them- 
felves mafter of the other. 

This action, fo determined, tmexpected and 
aftoniftiing, overwhelmed the courage and felf- 
pofleflion of the Auftrians. They abandoned 
their pofition, and left the field to the enemy. 

Bonaparte's account of the battle was given 
in the following manner. 



*^ I expected that the paffage of the Po would 
be the boldeft enterprize of the campaign, and 
the battle of Millefimo the fierceft engagement ; 
but I have to give you an account of the battle 
of Lodi. 

" The Quarter-mafter General arrived at Cas- 
fel on the 21ft, at three o'clock in the morning; 
at nine, our advanced-guard came up with the 
enemy, who were defending the approaches of 
Lodi ; I immediately ordered all the cavalry to 
mount their horfes, and to tak€ four pieces Of 
light artillery which were drawn by coach- 
horfes belonging to fome Nobility of Plaifance, 
andjuft arrived. The divifion of General An- 
gerau, which had halted at Borghetto ; and that 
of General Maflena, which had refted at Gaffel, 
began their march direftly. During this time* 
the advanced-guard overturned all the Auftri- 
an pofts, and took pofleffion of one piece of 
cannon. We entered Lodi in purfuit of the en- 
emy, who had already croffed the Adda by the 
bridge. Beaulieu had ranged his Army in or- 
der of battle, with thirty pieces of cannon, fo 
fixed as to defend the paflagc. 



J9 

'' I then placed all my artillery en battcrie ; 
and the firing continued very briflc during fev- 
•eral hours. As foon as the Army arrived, it 
was formed into aclofe column, with the fecond 
battalion of carabiniers at the head, followed by 
all the battalions of grenadiers, crying Vive la 
Republique. They advanced on the bridge ; 
the enemy's fire was terrible ; the head of the 
column leemed to hefitate. One moment of 
decifion, and all would have been loft. Gen- 
erals Berthier, Maffena, Cervoni, Dallemagne, 
the Chef de Brigade Lafnes, and the Chef de 
Battalion Dupat, with one fentiment precipitated 
themfelves forward, placed themfelves in the 
van, and decided the hefitation ftill in balance. 

" This formidable column bore down all that 
oppofed it ; the enemy's artillery was over- 
thrown ; Beaulieu's order of battle broken ; and 
on all fides it dealt fear, flight, and death. 

" Generals Rusca, Angereau, and Bayrand, 
on the arrival of their divifions, affilled in de- 
ciding the vi£lory. The cavalry pafled the 
Adda by means of a ford, but it being a very 



20 

bad one, they were much retarded and prevent- 
ed from engaging. To facilitate the retreat of 
their infantry, the Auftrian horfe endeavored to 
charge our troops ; but they were not eafily in- 
timidated. The approach of night, and the ex- 
ceffive fatigue of the men, many of whom had 
on that day marched above ten leagues, did not 
allow us to purfue the fugitives. The enemy 
loft twenty pieces of cannon, and between two 
or three thoufand men killed, wounded, and ta^ 
ken prifoners. Citizen Latour, Aid-de-Camp 
Capitaine to General Maffena, received feveral 
wounds with a sabre ; I requeft the place of 
Ch'f de BataiUon for this brave Officer, Citi^ 
zen Marmot, my Mde-de-Camp, Chef de Batail- 
Ion, had a horfe wounded under him. Citizen 
yi2iXO\?,3my Aide-derCamp Capitaine, received fev- 
eral balls through his coat ; the courage of this 
young officer, is equal to l^is activity. 

^' Were it requifite for me to fpeak of every 
one who rendered himself confpicuous on this 
occafion, \ ftiould be obliged to name all the 
carabiniers, and grenadiers of the advanced- 
guard, and. moil of the Officers of the Etat 



21 

Major. But I ought not to omit the intrepidi- 
ty of" Bertheir, who bn that day was cannoneer, 
cavalier, and grenadier. The Chef de Brigade 
Sugny, Commandant of Artiller)% behaved very 
gallantly. 

" Beaulieu fled with the remains of his Army, 
He is now traverfing the States of Venice, 
P where many towns have already (hut their gates 

againft him. 

" Although, from the commencement of the 
^ campaign, we have had warm engagements, in 

which the Republican Army has evinced the 
mod: animated courage, yet none can be com- 
pared with the dreadful battle on the bridge of 
Lodi." 

This victory opened the gates of Milan to the 
French. The Army ftill purfued its conquefts ; 
Pavia, Pizzigthone, and Cremona, were fub- 
dued ; and the Republican flag waved from tlie 
(hores of the Lake of Coma and the borders of 
the Grifons, to the gates of Parma. 



22 

After the battle ofLodi, the Auflrians retired 
beyond the Mincio ; they polTefTed a flrong 
hold, in the fortrefs of Pefchiera, which the Ve- 
netians allowed them to occnpy. 

Bonaparte found means to pafs the river ; and 
after a flout refiflance, the enemy was obliged 
to give ground. The conqueror took poflelTion 
of Valeggio, the head-quarters of Beaujjiieu. 
The Auflrians being thus completely driven out 
of Italy, the advanced pofls of the French di- 
refted their courfe over the mountains of Ger- 
many. Verona was taken, and Mantua be- 
fieged. Leghorn was subdued, and Rome ap- 
peared their next deflination. The Pope be- 
came alarmed for his capital, Bologna, and 
the two Caflles of Urbino and Ferrara were al- 
ready in the hands of his enemies. To prevent 
farther danger, the Pontiff figned a treaty by 
which he ceded the town and citadel of Ancona 
to the French. 

All the Princes of Italy made each a feparate 
peace ; and the King of Naples himfelf solicited 
a truce with Bonaparte. 



23 

General Beaulieu was recalled ; and Marllial 
Wurmfer being fent with frefh troops in his 
ftead, the French received fome check ; but 
the Auftrian fuccefs was of fhort duration. At 
Lonado, the French advanced-guard, cofiil- 
ingofa General, a part of the i8th demi-bri^ 
gade, and two pieces of artillery were taken 
by Wurmfer. Bonaparte arrived at the inftant, 
fell furioufly on the enemy, retook the pri- 
foners, and purfued the Auftrians as far as De- 
fenzano. 

All the corps of the enemy at Lonado, Ga- 
vardo and Salo, being deftroyed, Bonaparte 
marched towards Caftiglione and Stevera. His 
Army came up with that of Wurmfer at day- 
break. The French began the attack with im- 
petuofity. They conquered and did not ceafe 
purfuing their advantage, until they had driven 
their enemies to feek refuge among the Tyrolefe 
mountains. 

One part of the Republican Army pafTed the 
Adige, whilft the other took poffeffion of the 
heights which divide the Venetian States from 



H 

Tyrol. After a few flvirmifhes between the re^ 
fpectlve advanced-guards, the two armies a^^ 
length met ; a Iharp confli61 enfued,. but the 
Auflrians gave way, and retreated to Roveredo. 
A fhort time after the city of Trent was taken 
by the French, and Wurmfer put to flight. 

The Auftrians being compelled to leave Baf- 
funa, and unable to pafs the Brenta, (thepaf- 
fage of which was cut off by two divifions of 
the Republican army,) had no refource but to 
throw themfelves into Mantua. Wurmfer 
gained the city, where he was to expect a re- 
inforcement of fifty thoufand men, under the 
command of Generals Alvingy and Davidovick, 
This new army marched towards Verona, to 
eflre6l ajundion with that of the Tyrol. Bona- 
parte haflened to prevent this ftep. The Aus- 
tria ns having information of his defigns, threw 
a regiment of Croats, and fome Hungarians 
into the village of Areola. This manouvre de- 
layed the advanced-guard of the French for a 
whole day. Next morning a general and ob- 
flinate engagement took place, when the.Aus- 
trians after a brave refiftance, were obliged t6 



fall back. After this defeat Wurmfer made fe-^ 
veral more attacks, which ended equally unfor- 
tunate : he feemed pfeparing to move. 

Bonapsirte lay clofe to Verona to obferve his 
motions. The Auftrian route was foon known. 
Bonaparte ordered his troops towards Rivoli, 
and arrived there in the night. A battle began 
in the morning, which was fought with equal 
obftinacy on both fides. Viftory for a time 
Was doubtful ; but fome new difpofitions in the 
French Army, which were formed with rapidity, 
changed the fortune of the day. The enemy 
was beaten along his whole line, and hurried 
into the Adige, with the lofs of feveral pieces 
of cannon. 

Bonaparte next proceeded to Roverbella, 
where he found General Augereau prepared to 
fall on the column commanded by Provera. 
Provera, whofe intentions were to reach Man- 
tUa, was attacked with fo much efteft, that he 
loft two thoufand men, forty officers, and feve- 
ral pieces of artillery. 

D 



26 

A (hort fufpenfion, and Provera was again 
aflauked. Bonaparte's aim was to prevent that 
General from deriving any advantage from the 
troops in Mantua. Whilft part of the Repub- 
lican Army turned the Auftrian column, Miolis 
made a fortie from St. George, which com- 
pelled Provera, who found himfelf furrounded, 
to furrender his Army prifoners of war. 

The blockade of Mantua had lafted fix 
months. The vigorous fallics of the garrifon 
daily weakened its flrength. Famine and mi- 
fery having fpread themfelves within its walls, 
the reduftion of Provera was the fignal for fur- 
render. 

The Auftrian Army, under the com mand of 
Prince Charles, now occupied one fide of the 
Piava, whilft the French forces were ftationed 
on the other. A divifion of the latter, croffed 
the river at day-break, aflailed the enemy, and 
furrounding their rear-guard, took feven hun- 
dred prifoners. 



27 

Conqueft fmiled on the Republicans on the 
banks of the Tagliamento, at the village of 
Grandifca, and on the bridge of Ceva-Sola. 
The Auflrians, every where defeatefd, abandon- 
ed their magazines, and made a precipitate re- 
treat. The French purfued them to the defiles 
of Caporetto : vi6lory followed their ileps. 
Thirty field-pieces, four hundred waggons, five 
thoufand men, and four -General's were the 
lofs fuftained on this occafion by the Auf. 
trians. 

The Enemy being difcomfited in the Tyrol, 
Carinthia, Carniola ; and Clagenfurt, the ca- 
pital of the Carinthias being taken, the Re- 
publican Army being in absolute pofleflion of 
the defiles of Infpruck, began its march. Every 
thing feemed to bend before the French. They 
were already within thirty leagues of Vienna, 
The Imperial Court took the alarm. Dreading 
an attack oh the capital, the Emperor pro- 
pofed a fufpenfion of hoftilities, which was 
granted. 

Preliminaries of Peace were afterwards figned 



at Leoben, a village, twenty-nine leagues froni 
Vienngi, where the French lay encamped- The 
treaty of Campo Formio finifhed the events of 
this pampiaign, and Bonaparte returned to 
Paris. 

Iji the April of 17975 preparations were made 
for jiis expedition to Egypt. Thailand which 
had witneffed the prowefs of almoft every tur- 
bulent fpirit fince the Creation, was once more 
to flow with human blood. The Moloch of 
ambition demanded yet more facrifices, and men 
were dragged through vaft feas,and over track- 
lefs deserts, to bleed before that monftrous idol, 
on the (hores of the Nile. 

On the 20th of May, a llrong fquadron, com- 
prifingone hundred and ninety-four (hips, bear- 
ing ninety thoufand troops, befidcs near two 
thoufand artificers, artifts, and men of letters, fe 
fail from the port of Toulon. 

About the middle of June, the fleet came in 
fight of Gozzo, an ifland belonging to the 
l^nights of Malta. Thefe Knightshave long 



^9 

been coi'ifidercd as men o(" ilie firlt quality Tor 
bravery and birih, in the world. Ihey origi- 
nally were (lyled Knights of St. John of Jerui'a- 
1cm, and occupied the ifiand of Rhodes : when 
they loil that place, Malta was given to them in 
the year 1530, by the EmperorCharles the Fifth ; 
and fince then they have changed their appella- 
tion to Knights of Malta. This beautiful ifj- 
and is at a very ihort diftance from Sicily. 

Between Gozzo and Malta, Bonaparte was 
joined by a convoy from Civita Vecchia ; and 
the fame evening he fent to the Grand Mailer 
to afl<. permiffiori to take in water. The Grand 
Mailer, as w^as expeOed, refuled ; and the 
French received immediate orders to commence 
hpflilities. The next day the troops effefted a 
landing ; and after a warm reliflance on the 
fide of the befieged, they loft the facred ftandarcj 
of their Order, were beaten on all fides, and 
compelled to requeft a fulpenfion of arms. This 
truce was granted on the exprefs condition, that 
the towm (liould be afterwards fu rrendered . Acr 
cordingly, during a fliort breathing of four and 
twenty hours, it was fettled between the Gra«]d 



30 
Mafler and Citizens Pouflielque and Dolomieu, 
that Malta, Gozzo, and Comino, (hould capitu- 
late to the French, 

On the ift of June, the viBorious fquadron, 
in high fpirits, defcried the coaft of Africa ; and 
foon after failed into the road of Alexandria.* 
An attack was levelled againft the town at day- 
break. General Kleber mounted the wail by 
efcalade. General Bon forced the gate of Ro- 
fetta. General Menou blockaded the Caftle. 
He was the firft that burft a way into the town. 
General Marmont overthrew every thing that 
oppofed his onfet. General Bon broke through 
the enclofure of the Arabs. Such determinati- 
on and impetuofity could not be withftood. 
The en^my took to flight. The ftreets were de- 
ferted ; but the Triangular Fort, the Pharillon, 
and every private houfe and public building was 
a citadel. Walls, however ftrong, were no fe- 
curity, when fear was within, and valour and 

* Alexandria is someti'mes called Scanderich. It was 
founded by Alexander the Great, who gave it his nam^ 
Its having been the birth-place of Euclid, must render it 
saqred to the learned world. 



31 

victory without. The Caftles capitulated ; and 
before night-tall the forts and harbour were in 
the quiet pofleffion of the French. 

On the 8th of July, Bonaparte entered on 
the tremendous talk of crofling the Defert to 
Cairo. Scorched by a burning fun over their 
heads, and its refle6led flames from below, the 
harraffed army arrived, fainting with fatigue 
and thirft, on the 20th of the fame month, with- 
in view of the Pyramids. 

Cairo was not far "off. Twenty-three Beys, 
with a large force, lay entrenched at Embabe, a 
village in the vicinity. By dawn next day, and 
after purfuing thofe Mamelukes from village to 
village, at length came up, even to the Bey s 
Army itfelf, and close to the encampment. The 
order of battle was immediately formed. 

Generals Defaix and Regnier took a pofition 
on the right, between Giralo and Embabe. Ge- 
neral Kleber occupied the centre. General Bon 
formed the left wing, flanked by the Nile. 



y 



Moiirat Bey learning the movement of Ge'^ 
hcfal Defdix, fent one of his mofl; intrepid Of- 
iicers with a detachment to attack him. Defaix 
permitted the Mamelukes to approach within 
fifty paces of his line : but at that moment a 
volley of large and fmall {hot was poured from 
liis divifion, which furprifed the enemy, and 
made fuch havoc wirh the men, as fpread the 
ground with their bleeding bodies. Meanwhile 
the divifions of Menou and Bon, affaulted the 
Mameluke camp. 

General Rampon, at the head of his column, 
led the attack, but was riiet by the enemy, who 
rhade eI vigorous charge, rulhing from the en- 
trenchments at full gallop. The French halted,' 
atid received the brave foe at the point of the 
bayonet, and with a flibwer of muifket balls. 
The field was covered with the dead. The 
French prefied on. Slaughter reigned in all its 
lidnors. Humanity leemed to be annihilated in 
the general carnage. Tlie Mamelukes driven to 
defperation, fieW to the left. Their enemies were 
tliere to receive them ; and thofe which efcaped 
the fword precipitated themfelves into the river, 



33 
and were drowned. Dreadful was the fight 
which the Nile exhibited that day. It was one 
fheet of mangled bodies, floating in the mingled 
ftream of blood and water. 

In this battle, called the battle of the Pyra- 
mids, the Beys loft two thoufand Cavalry, beiides 
many of their own pnk, who fell in the field. 
In confequence of this defeat, Cairo furrendered 
to Bonaparte on the 23d of July. 

Bonaparte's next march was towards Syria in 
purfuit of Ibrahim Bey. Near Balbeis, the 
French Army encountered part of the caravan 
of Mecca, which they refcued from a banditti 
of Arabs. Bonaparte went to Suez. Here the 
French were informed that Djezzar Pacha of 
Acre was coUefting his troops, and that a corps 
already approached El Arifti ; a place diftant 
one day's journey from the entrance of the De- 
fert. Bonaparte fent out his orders accordingly. 
General Regnier, with his divifion, arrived be- 
fore El Arifh. General Legrange planted his 
artillery on hills, which cannonaded the town. 

E 



1^. 



34 
Regnier charged the advanced guard. Kleber 
furpriled the camp ; and Bonaparte appearing 
iii perfon, ordered the caftle to be cannonaded ; 
a breach was made, and the town fummoned to 
furrender. 

EI Arifh gained, the French found eafy accefs 
into Gaza. Jaffa was th» next place that fell. 

On the i8th of March the Army purfued its 
way to St. Jean d'Acre. But the particulars of 
this juftly celebrated liege and defence are too 
well known by Engliftimen to require recapitu- 
lation. Bonaparte raifed theficge, and retreated 
towards Cairo. The battle of Aboukir finiflied 
the campaign, for fcon after, Bonaparte formed 
the defisn of return in sr to France. 

General Bertliier was his only confidant in this 
affair. Without aiTigning a rcafon, he ordered' 
Vice- Admiral Gantheaume to prepare two fri- 
gates, an advice-boat, and a tartanne, ready for 
fea. His commands being obeyed, he then 
wrote a fealed note to each perfon whom he in- 
tended fhould accompany him in his voyage 



35 
and told them, when he gave it, that it was not 
to be opened till a particular day and hour, 
(which he named,) when they fhould be at a fix- 
ed fpot on the fea-fhore. The 23d of Auguft 
was the day appointed. 

All who had received the notes, affembled and 
read them. They found inftruftions to embark 
direftly on board the veflels which were ready 
to fail. Bonaparte joined them. The anchors 
were weighed, and the rejoicing groupe faw 
Egypt leflening to their view, and France and 
their homes in profpeft before them. 

Thus, after having fpent a year in the long 
famous country of the Nile, Bonaparte bade it a 
hafty adieu, and reached Ajaccio in his native 
ifland, on the ift of Oftober, 1798. 

On the 15th of December, the Provifionary 
Government of the Republic publifhed a new 
Conftitution, and nominated Bonaparte Firft 
Conful, and Cambaceres and Lebrun Second 
and Third Confuls. On the 7th of March, 
1800, a new campaign opened in Italy, the 



36 
events of which, being too rtumerous to relate 
in this brief memoir, the remainder of its pages 
(hall be occupied by a concife narrative of the 
mod diftinguiftied a6lion of that period, the 
battle of Marengo. 

On the 13th of June, the French Army 
marched towards St. JuHan, a village about 
three miles from Tortona, on the borders of the 
plain of Marengo. General Melas, who com- 
manded the enemy, was flationed at the bridge 
of the Bormida. Before dawn next morning, the 
French formed themfelves in two lines, fupport- 
ing their wings by ftrong bodies of cavalry. The 
enemy's order of battle reached to the extent 
of fix miles. Each fide fought with defpera- 
Uon. The air refounded with the thunder of 
artillery ; and the ground was bathed in the 
blood of thofe who fell. The Bormida was 
deep and rapid. The Auftrians dire61ed an in^ 
cefTant fire towards the bridge, aiming to cut 
off all retreat, Bonaparte gave orders for the 
troops to referve to advance with fpeed, but the 
corps command,ed by General Defaix Were not 



37 
arrived. Melas purfued his advantage The 
left wing fell back, the infantry were repulfed 
in confufion, and the cavalry put to flight. Bo 
naparte rallied his terrified foldiers, and though 
expofed to a fire of eighty pieces of cannon, 
retreated in perfeft order. Melas aflured him- 
felf of vi6lory. A formidable body of caval- 
ry, fupported by feveral fquadrons of light ar- 
tillery, attacked th^ French to the right. The 
garrifon of Tortona perceiving the danger of 
the Republicans, made a fortie, and aflifted to 
hem them round. Thirty pieces of cannon 
thundered through the valley upon them, over- 
throwing men and trees, and hurling ponderous 
ruins on the miferable wretches whofe wounds 
rendered them unable to rife. The fituation 
of Bonaparte at this moment, was in the centre 
of his army, encouraging his troops to defend 
the defile in which they were. It was flanked 
on one fide by a wood, and on the other by the 
village and vineyards of Marengo. The Aus- 
trians having planted their train of artillery, 
during its dreadful fulminations, difpofed their 
cavalry in the rear^ fo as to be ready to fall on. 



38 
and difperfe the ranks of the enemV, the firft 
inftaiit they {hould appearHil diforder. , At this 
erifis Defaix arrived. Notwithfta^ding^;;^t his 
divifion had performed a march often leagues, 
they advanced with coolnefs and intrepidity to 
the combat. The effeft of this reinforcement 
was to fill the hearts of their comrades with 
hope and renewed vigour. Every foldier was 
again in motion, and impelled forward ; the 
defile was cleared ; the enemy repulfed ; and 
the French fcouring the valhy, the dying, 
wounded, and dead, wtre alike trodden to the 
ground. The Auftrians retreated. One of 
their ammunition waggons blowing up with a 
loud explofion, the ranks were feized with a 
panic, and amidft the (houts of their conque- 
rors, and the cries of their vanquifhed brethren, 
they took to flight. In the utmofl; terror and 
difoider the Auftrians arrived at the bridge of 
the Bormida, where they made a dcfperate 
ftand. They fought with unexcelled intrepidity, 
till night covered them wuh darknefs, and faved 
their (battered remains. 



39 
Thus terminated the battle of Marengo, the 
effe6l of which was the treaty ofLuneville. 

Bonaparte returned to Milan. After having 
re-organized the Cifalpine Republic ; and ac- 
cepted in the name of the French nation, the 
fortre{r;^s of Tortona, Turin, Alexandria, Coni, 
Ceva, Savona, Pizzighetoni, and Genoa, on the 
2d of July, he re-entered Paris, where he was 
received by the people with open arms, and loud 
felicitations. 



F I N I S. 



9 




LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



020 115 988 A 



.35 



•v 



\ 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



020 115 988 fi ^ 



